Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Halloween 1989

Halloween 1989 was great for us. My sister and her husband (who many of you know is also my husband's brother. Yeah, think that over for a second and you'll work it out. lol) lived in Niceville, Florida and we lived in Valparaiso, Florida (these 2 towns are right next to each other - I mean right next to each other. Our homes were probably only 2 miles apart). Living so close to one another, naturally our families got together to take the kids trick-or-treating. My nephew, Joseph, was dressed as a Mad Scientist. Nicholas, my oldest son, was dressed as the Hunchback. They were both 9 years old for that Halloween and, if I remember correctly, they had a fabulous time that year. So much laughter, so many smiles. Gotta love it. My niece, Megen, age 4 1/2, was dressed as a Jack-in-the-Box. She was the cutest little thing you ever saw. (Check out how long her braided hair is in the picture. That kid was born with more hair than most humans grow over a lifetime. lol). And Desiree', who at the time was 2 1/2 years old, was dressed as, what else?, a Christmas present. She was hysterically funny because she kept tripping over her own feet, but once she'd fall, she couldn't get herself back up because of the box she was wearing. I know, I know. We were all wrong to laugh at her like we did, but good grief...it was just so funny. All you could see was this box with a head, 2 arms and these short little legs sticking out of the bottom, kicking for all they were worth. Funny stuff. Oh hush. You'd have laughed, too, if you'd seen her!
And just so you don't think I laughed at my daughter with no idea of how that would make her feel, let me tell you this little story. Joseph and Nick were Cub Scouts that year and their troop decided to have a Halloween themed meeting that month. Complete with costumes. Yeah, everyone was supposed to dress up, including the parents. Well, being relatively young and extremely foolish, we all took them seriously and dressed up. Sherri was smart. She dressed as a Bunny. That meant she wore pastel pants and a giant sweatshirt with a big cotton ball pinned to her butt and a headband with cute little bunny ears. Oh, and she drew whiskers on her face, too. Randey and Ken (Sherri's husband, Randey's brother. Come on now, keep up!) were really smart. Randey dressed like a hunchback. Which basically meant he stuffed a pillow under his shirt up by his shoulders. Ken dressed as a mummy. He just had a bunch of torn pieces of sheet wrapped around him. Me? Oh I went all out. I mean, all out. I had a bridesmaid dress that I never actually cared for (just look at it...all us bridesmaids looked like giant fluffs of cotton candy wearing those things!) and a pair of Randey's BDU pants and an old shirt from the thrift store. I combined all these things and went as Half Man/Half Woman. Complete with mascara painted full beard and moustache and one honkin' thick eyebrow (I was trying to look manly on that side, remember?). And guess what? We arrived at the meeting and no other parents were dressed up. None. Nada. No.Body.Else. And to top it all off, they looked at us like we were insane. What the heck? Randey and Ken quickly "removed" their costumes (i.e., the pillow and the torn strips of sheets) and Sherri thought about removing her tail and ears until I threatened her with her life. Still...she only had on tiny little ears, a fluffy little tail and thinly drawn whiskers. I, on the other hand, looked like a complete freak. That was the last year I ever dressed up for Halloween. There's nothing like little children pointing and snickering at you while their parents gaze at you with smirks and even a little pity to make you realize that the time for dressing up has come and gone. One good thing that came of it, though. I finally got rid of that horrific bridesmaid dress! lol
**Correction*** Randey informs me that he was the mummy and Ken was the hunchback. You can understand why I was confused, though, right? I mean they were out of their costumes so fast (those sniveling little cowards!), it's hard to remember exactly who wore what. Apparently, I've blocked out more of that evening that I thought I had but, honestly, who could blame me? lol

post signature

21 comments:

  1. Oh funny! That would be enough to make me stop attending the meetings and find another group!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Okay, so why do I find that story inspiring? Why do I feel that dressing up to please the kids is a wonderful thing to do? You don't have those pictures do you? I really really do need to go through your stash of photos, you can can come out with the most awful shots...I could have sworn I had destroyed them...you do know I have been half woman/half man in my life time of dressing up...also a wicked witch complete with warts, a giant eyeball...I think I gave up the dress up about the time I started my career...who can take a cop seriously who dresses up like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I almost showed up to my recent Red Hat meeting "dressed up" because I misunderstood...we don't dress up till the last of the month then we are going to the rest homes to "entertain".
    I won't tell you what I'm going to be yet as I want to surprise everyone in Blogland too...lol!
    I have not dressed up since probably 1986 and I was a very wicked witch that year and kept talking "in character" scared my kids to death...

    You have a wonderful day my friend!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I bet we know each other some how. We have been to close. We lived in Florida and layed niceville in Football. Crazy world.
    You also ask me where rian is stationed.Yes it is McGuire. I love it there.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kari...that was hysterical...thank you!!

    The last time J and I dressed up, I was a saloon girl and he was a preacher. He wore Terrie's gown from her college commencement..we couldn't figure out what he was, either judge or preacher. In the end we decided he was a preacher. My saloon girl outfit was from Terrie's college days too. We used to dress up and sit on the front porch on Hallowe'en. I was always a witch, in those days and J was a scarecrow. Too funny...of course this was on the farm and we only had 6 or 8 trick or treaters! But it was worth every minute! I have a cat earred headband I pull out for hallowe'en. That and a black sweat shirt and pants is all I need. I have to admit, some of the trick or treaters give me a look or two!

    Thanks again for a wonderful laugh this morning!
    Pat

    ReplyDelete
  6. Serious chuckling going on at this computer right now. That's hilarious. Did the den mothers even dress up? Or were you seriously the only freaks at the fair?

    Love,
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would have died of mortification to show up with no one else dressed up! lol I thought those kind of things only happened to me...glad to hear they happen to you too! hehe You looked great though as half man half woman...I know, little comfort to you right now right? Love the picture of the little ones also...I was laughing just thinking of the little present falling all over! lol xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh Girl...loved this post. The photo of the children was priceless! Cute cute costumes. And the one of you...wait let me catch my breath...was hilarious! Good story behind it too.

    Hugs!

    Kat

    ReplyDelete
  9. What are you waiting?
    There is a give-a-way in my blog.
    LOL
    Please come and participate.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What are you waiting?
    There is a give-a-way in my blog.
    LOL
    Please come and participate.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh come on, what's was wrong with those other mothers? Your costume was fantastic!
    Great story!
    DebraK

    ReplyDelete
  12. Okay, that was too funny! And that picture of you in the bridesmaid dress--I really did LOL. Have you ever seen Legally Blonde where Reese Witherspoon shows up at a party in costume and it wasn't a costume party? It must have been like that! And I love the pics of the kiddies!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Now that was a funny story. I am going to tease Nick about that hunchback picture. He was cute as were the other kids. Poor little Desiree. Imagine Maddy in a box costume and her little clumsy self. Too funny.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Kari, I laughed my head off when I read this post!! In fact, it was so funny I read it twice! The part about the men removing their costumes, leaving you alone in yours REALLY made me laugh-how cruel and sadistic of me I know!!! And the kids looked so cute-especially the parcels!!xxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. That is so cute!!! I love the story of the Christmas present kiddo!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh Kari...I just hate that I haven't been by lately to check on Joey. I have missed SO much from not coming by everyday. Just praying so much that he will continue to improve!!! (And, absolutely the Bama Gods have got to be on his side. LOL!)

    Those Halloween pictures and memories are wonderful!! Love em!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Kari,
    Just stopping by to let you know I was finally able to leave a comment for Joey and his family! I have no idea what I was doing wrong!
    The costume is hilarious! Hey, I saw this on Oprah's website today and wondered if you knew about it...the book is:
    The Wisdom of Menopause
    By Dr. Christiane Northrup
    It looks interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  18. You are TOO funny. I needed that laugh and always know where to find one! I think you look adorable! The kids too of course. Hey, I think it was those other parents who should have been embarrassed. You all were into the spirit of the holiday and having fun...those others were just killjoys. Hmpf.

    Thank you for the giggle you silly girl...

    And I do think you looked adorable!

    I go to sleep every night with a prayer for Joey and Karen...

    Hugs,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh Kari...you always know how to make me laugh and really brighten my day! Your kids were such cutie pies too!
    ~Des

    ReplyDelete
  20. HAHAHAHAHA!

    Well, I thought it looked great! And it looked like a lot of fun!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your comment. I love to hear what you have to say!